7 smart and sassy crime fiction writers dish on writing and life.
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Tuesday, June 4, 2019

What Hank's Writing: What is THE MURDER LIST?

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: THE MURDER LIST is not a legal thriller, someone said to me. It's domestic suspense, focused on a wife and husband, and who might be the good guy and who might be the bad. Someone else said: It's not domestic suspense, it's totally a legal thriller. It's about murder, and trials, and finding a dangerous killer. Or two. I say: it's both. It's THE MURDER LIST (coming August 20), and I am superly excited about it.It has a courtroom battle--oh yes. And a jury. And some murders, and legal wrangling. But also a husband and wife...situation. As the amazing Erica Ferencik said : "it's husband and wife, ego and id, cat and mouse."No review couldn't make me happier than one Goodreads early reader who said--"All right! If John Grisham and Lisa Scottoline had a book baby, that would be THE MURDER LIST!" I might have a t-shirt made out of that. But what is a legal thriller?Witness for the Prosecution. A Few Good Men. Adam's Rib. To Kill a Mockingbird, of course. And the amazing Inherit the Wind, (Spencer Tracy as Clarence Darrow) remember? And oh--Compulsion (Orson Welles as Clarence Darrow), maybe my favorite trial movie ever.

The reason I love these movies is that they not just about the crime, but they're about personal stories, right? Relationships. Why people make the decisions they do. And certainly they're about justice. And sometimes, when we wonder--why do we write crime fiction? When there's already enough crime in the world? I once read a mystery where someone says--I don't write about crime. I write about justice.And that's what I do, too. Write about why people do what they do, and then--how do we get to to the truth about it? And be sure--can we ever be sure?--that justice is served? Claus Von Bulow died last week, and I had covered his retrial in 1985. (Recognize anyone besides Von Bulow in this photo from the NY Times that was in his obituary?)

Von Bulow was acquitted--but did someone try to kill his wife Sunny? His death, and hers years earlier, means we will never know. We'll never know! That's what informed TRUST ME--that sometimes we think we know, but we don't, can't possibly, for sure. And I explore similar themes in THE MURDER LIST. Murder, and the rules of law. Justice, and how we get there--if we do. And, as the cover asks: What happens when the battle for justice becomes the battle for survival?Rachel. Jack. Martha. Who is next on THE MURDER LIST?Here is Rachel North, chief of staff to Senator Tom Rafferty. And they both are having a bad day in court.

Rachel North

A wall of bodies and cameras and microphones presses toward us and a
din of insistent voices engulfs us, questions echoing on the white brick walls,
doubling the sound, tripling the sound. We almost can’t get out of the elevator.
It crosses my mind to push the close door
button, escape, and sneak back into the courtroom some other way.

“Let’s do this,” I say. I narrow my eyes, lift my chin and power ahead, carving
a path for the Senator, unstoppably determined, as if I’m his personal fullback.
What these people are asking, what they’re demanding, what they’re thinking, is
outrageous. Insensitive. Demeaning. Disrespectful. And, I hate myself for
thinking, exactly what I’d like to know myself.

“Is your wife a murderer,
Senator?” “Why did she do it?” “Why would Nina kill her?” “Were you
having an affair?” “Are you going to resign?”

“No comment no comment the
senator has no comment,” I repeat. I’m a robot, a talking robot, but I can feel
Tom Rafferty, silent and seething, behind me. We make it to the tall wooden
courtroom doors of room 226. I pull one of the metal door handles. Nothing. Try
the other one. Nothing. And again. Nothing.Locked.

“No comment no comment no comment.”
I say as I keep trying, rattling the curved handles with one hand, knocking
like crazy with the other. Tom and I are trapped here, sandwiched between the
closed doors and the insistent reporters. Not a good battle strategy.

I almost fall over when one
of the doors opens right onto me, and I lurch a step backward, almost tripping
on the Senator who’s close behind me. A scowling court officer, a head taller
than I am and shoulders twice as broad, appears in the doorway, clearly ready
to order us away. He stops mid-command. Closes his mouth. Regroups.

“Get in here,” he mutters,
waving us through.

I go first, ducking my head,
then Tom. I feel the crowd behind us surging, as a group, trying to follow.

This book sounds SO AMAZING! You have the unerring ability to absolutely hook me, put me there and keep me riveted. Can't wait to read! I do like legal thrillers. I'd add Bob Dugone to the author's list. JURY MASTER was the first one of his that I read.

Oh, that's a good teaser. I'm ready to read right now! Legal thrillers I've enjoyed include the old movie version of Witness for the Prosecution with Tyrone Power; The Rainmaker by John Grisham; Scott Turow's Presumed Innocent. In Anne Perry's William Monk series most of the cases wind up in court and the trials are usually quite suspenseful. And we can't forget Clouds of Witness or Strong Poison in which Lord Peter Wimsey is trying to save his brother and, later, Harriet Vane when each was on trial for murder.

I used to read lots of legal thrillers, with Grisham and Turow being my main squeezes there, but I don't read much of it anymore. I've rather swung over to domestic thrillers lately. However, with your book, Hank, and Steven Cavanaugh's Thirteen on my June reading list, I'm sure I'll be loving me some legal thrilling again.

I can remember being so interested in the Claus Von Bulow trial and re-trial. I couldn't believe he got off. I felt he was guilty as sin and got away with the slow 28-year death of his wife Sunny. Great picture of you, Hank. When this pic appeared on FB, someone posted a link to Vanity Fair's piece on it by Dominic Dunne. I went back and read it, and that led me to reading the Vanity Fair piece where Dominic Dunne discussed his daughter's murder and the subsequent trial of her ex-boyfriend. It was unbelievable that the guy got off with 7 years and only had to serve about 3. It is a perfect example of how a murder conviction can look like a slam dunk and not be.

i yes, both of those trials were breathtaking. I am always have been interested in what goes on inside the jury room… And we will see that in a certain upcoming book! What is Thirteen?! I have not heard of it.

Hank, Thirteen is by British author Steve Cavanaugh, who is compared to Grisham and Turow. The novel is a twist on a murder trial, with the serial killer being on the jury and not on trial. I wasn't aware of it being the third in a series of legal thrillers until I decided I wanted to read it, but I don't think reading the other two are necessary, as it's about the series features the defense attorney in different trials or legal undertakings. Erin Mitchell recommended it.

I'm looking forward to your new book, Hank! As for legal thrillers, I've read most of Grisham's early works. Then his books stopped holding my interest. Not sure if it was me who changed or his writing. It's been a while since I've read what I would consider to be a good legal thriller.

I'm reading two legal thrillers -- sort of -- concurrently. One is MIRACLE CREEK, by Angie Kim, about trial of a mother who maybe possibly -- or not -- set a fire around a bariatric chamber and killed two people, one of whom was her eight year old. There are a variety of narrators and I'm not sure any are reliable.

The second is FURIOUS HOURS: Murder, Fraud and the Last Trial of Harper Lee. Put this on on your TBR stack people. Its a brilliant debut for author Casey Cep, the story of the book Harper Lee never published. It's not so much a legal thriller as a book about a Lee's writing a legal thriller.

Hey people, did you know Alexa could read to you, and Audible is not necessarily port of the equation. As some of you know, I've been put on bed rest, pneumonia, and yesterday I didn't feel like holding a book. So I pulled up my Kindle library on the Alexa app on my phone, and asked the darling girl to read to me. Although robotic, the voice is well modulated, and seriously, like I even cared anyway. She started right up where I'd left off in the book, and later, when I went back to Kindle reading, it picked up where Alexa had stopped.

Oh, poor thing! I hope you’re feeling better… And that is amazing about Alexa. How does it work? And so funny that you mention miracle creek! And I will look for the other one, definitely. Feel better.... xxx

Hank, open your Alexa app on your phone and click on “play” down at the bottom. You should see both your audible library and your kindle library. Select a book and a list of Alexa locations will appear. Ours are all named for the rooms they are in. Click on the one you want and that’s it. Alexa’s has a pleasant voice but no drama there as you find on audible. None the less, it was nice for putting me to sleep.

I haven't read legal thrillers in a long time - but you know I will read any book you write, Hank! The Murder List will be no exception. August is going to be a good reading month, with Hallie's AND your book coming out.

Like any book genre, I will read any legal thriller that tells a great story. I loved John Grisham's The Pelican Brief. That first time I read it, I felt the tension in the story so much that I could feel my heart pounding with each passing page.

There's been other legal thrillers of course, but that's the one that definitely deserved the term "pulse-pounding".

Such a grand tale it is. I seldom reread books, but THIS, was so great, I read and reread and then read some more. Just wishing here, wouldn't a 3 author promotional August book tour be a dream come true? Once real crime stories became such a part of television, I began to drift away from legal thrillers.

Legal thrillers are usually a go-to genre for me, though of course I enjoy one occasionally. There is one author I have particularly found I enjoy. Anyone else out there familiar with Kate Wilhelm's Barbara Holloway books? Barbara is an attorney in Eugene, Oregon who does a lot of pro bono work and only takes on cases that really interest her. Several of those books have had stories so compelling they will be with me forever. Her "By Stone, By Blade, By Fire" was especially chilling and wonderful.

Shalom Reds and fans. I remember as a child watching the television serial, Perry Mason. It prompted me to find and read all of the Erle Stanley Gardner novels that I could find in the library. A more recent “trial movie” that takes a great deal from the Perry Mason playbook is the Richard Gere movie Red Corner. I am sure a lot of liberties were taken with the portrayal of the Red Chinese legal system to achieve dramatic tension. But even just remembering the end of the movie always brings me to tears. (I wanted to check my memory of the closing scene of the movie and I found the entire transcription of the dialogue of the screenplay on the web. Who knew?!)

Legal thrillers have it all for me and now, I can't wait to get my hands on "Murder List"! Hank, you never fail the reader, and that is hugh. Who doesn't want "husband and wife, ego and id, cat and mouse." I loved "Runaway Jury" by Grisham and the movie was superb (but we've already done that blog, haven't we.) Look out Award Season. Here comes Hank!

Well, Hank, I can’t wait to read that book! (Did I ever tell you that I re-read most of your books?)

I do enjoy legal thrillers but haven’t read many in recent years. I go through phases when I try to read as many books as possible set in a particular geographical location, or on a certain topic, or by a particular author, etc, and that sometimes temporarily takes me away from something else that I enjoy. No matter what, though, I set everything aside to read books by the JRW authors and a few others (Edith Maxwell, that includes you!)

You are so organized! That is fun to hear, and a very interesting way of handling your reading you are so organized! That is fun to hear, and a very interesting way of handling your reading! and awwwws— thank you for the kind words! I think THE MURDER LIST might be even more fun to read the second time! :-)

I haven't seen anyone mention Steve Cavanagh. He is an Irish author who writes about Eddie Flynn, an NYC con-man-turned-defense attorney. Thirteen is his 4th in the series, with one of the best tag lines I've ever heard: The serial killer isn't on trial; he's on the jury. It features an audacious villain with unusual talents, more than enough twists and turns to keep the reader satisfied, electrifying courtroom scenes, and some ultra-exciting action. I have also read another in the series, The Liar, and look forward to the other two. I understand Cavanagh has a standalone coming out as well.

I also enjoy legal thrillers by Marcia Clark, Linda Fairstein, and Lisa Scottoline, and I agree that Miracle Creek is worth reading.

That is such a fascinating idea for a plot! I actually, seriously, I have thought about it. For years, and wondered if I could pull it off. Because how would you get that person on the jury? I cannot wait to read this…

Look at you rocking those '80s shoulders as a baby reporter! I love it!

I also loved THE MURDER LIST, both as domestic suspense and as a legal thriller.Which in some way was odd because for years I didn't care for legal thrillers. By the time I got into reading crime fiction and thrillers, I had been through law school and passed the bar. I worked as an attorney, my husband worked as an attorney, half our friends were attorneys...the LAST thing I wanted to do was read about attorneys in my free time.

HOWEVER! That hasn't been my life for a long time, and I enjoyed THE MURDER LIST all the more for the moments and concepts that brought up faint memories of my legal training. I suspect it's time to crack open a few of the books being recommended here and dig into a genre I've largely missed out on.

I’ve been reading Scottoline and Paretski lately, and agree that what makes all my favorite authors’ books (not about to try to name you all) compelling and satisfying is the development of relationships within the family and friends. If we can’t care about the characters, it’s just words. I also agree that "All right! If John Grisham and Lisa Scottoline had a book baby, that would be THE MURDER LIST!" would be great on a t-shirt, or a book bag, perhaps accompanied by “I don't write (read?) about crime. I write about justice.” The satisfaction does come with a sense of justice achieved, or at least attempted.

So I'm not sure if this EXACTLY counts as a 'legal' thriller, but Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood" remains, for me, an amazing work. The insight into the killers, and then Truman grappling with his interpersonal relationships with them, is so perfectly complex and uncomfortable. Considering that it was the first book of its kind, really, you have to respect what he achieved in crafting a new genre, 'literary nonfiction'.

Henry Fonda, Henry Fonda. I can't resist--I'm looking it up. Stand by...Twelve Angry Men! The Wrong Man! Both fabulous. (and Gideon's Trumpet, another classic.) AND he played Clarence Darrow in the stage play in 1974. You are so right Diana! (Thank you, magic Google!)

Fun fact of paths crossing: my husband did some of the legal work on Reversal of Fortune. One of the most interesting experiences in a long, interesting career,as you can imagine. Good luck with the new book. As to legal thrillers, I never really got over seeing !2 Angry Men movie ( on tv! - I'm not THAT old)as a teen. Saw a tv production much later, and on stage a few years ago - still gripping

Yes, completely! And wait--you mean on the movie? That is such a coincidence! (and what does HE think?) And yes, Twelve Angry Men--unforgettable. Psychology, and mob rule, and one stubborn person. Ahhh...all that.

Hank, I am SO excited for this book! A legal thriller/domestic suspense mashup sounds like the intersection in my reading Venn diagram. I love legal thrillers, especially Connelly's Mickey Holler series. Very much looking forward to August 20th!

I'm reading all these comments and have realized that I have never read a legal thiller. I will have to remedy that. August list....1) The Murder List. Can I pre-order it now?I can say that I love To Kill a Mockingbird - the movie. My sister read Mom's old paperback copy we had so often that it was falling apart. I got her a new one on her 50th birthday.

Well, Deana--music to my ears! And yes indeed you can! And I would be so grateful. ANd here is the link! https://www.amazon.com/Murder-List-Hank-Phillippi-Ryan/dp/125019721X/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1543850667&sr=1-1

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